Women of the Renaissance — the years roughly between 1450 and 1650 — were a fashionable bunch. The kings and queens of Europe were making lavish fashions popular with those who could afford them, and the result is that we now look back on that time and its rich beautiful dresses, Renaissance inspired corsetry, and headpieces with romantic awe.

Our fascination with this time period shows itself in televisions shows like Reign and movies like The Other Boylen Girl, Ever After, and Elizabeth I. There is something undeniably sexy and beautiful about the elaborate modes of dress practiced during this era, when great puffed sleeves and ruffed collars and sumptuous fabrics decorated the courtiers and the common folk alike.

The styles of this era are marked by their extravagance — how over the top and outlandish they could be — literally larger than life as in the case of such trends as the wide skirts and funneled sleeves that women adopted. So it feels glamorous now to mimic some of those styles and channel the aristocrats who used to wear them.

And, as is still the case today, beneath all these beautiful clothes were undergarments that were just as intricate and lovely on their own. Although the Tudors were a bit more shy about showing off their underthings than we are!

The Shift

An ankle-length shift or chemise would be put on first. Outer garments were not washed very often, and the shift acted as a soft, comfy barrier between the skin and the clothes. It also provided extra warmth during cold weather.

Detail of a shift worn beneath the outer dress

The cuffs and sleeves would very often be gathered up into billowy mounds or embroidered with intricate patterns, the better to accentuate the jackets and bodices that would be worn over them.

And something was always worn over the shift. It was as much like underwear to the Renaissance lady as a bra and panties are to us today. A simple sleeveless bodice at the very least would have been put on over the shift before a woman even thought of going outside the house.

The Corset

Corsets of this era were first worn underneath the dress, and it wasn’t until the 1530s that they began to make their move into the spotlight. By late in the 16th century it wouldn’t have been uncommon to see an elegant lady dressed in an elaborate gold patterned skirt with a green corset and matching jacket.

Corsets were referred to as a “pair of bodies” by the English ladies who wore them; it is the French term “corps pique,” meaning “quilted bodies” that we take the word corset from.

During the Renaissance, reeds, whale bone, and even strong lengths of cord would have been used to achieve the stiff shape that the corsets were valued for.

It wasn’t the style in the Renaissance to have a tiny waist and hourglass figure, so corsets were not tied as tightly as they would be later by the Victorians. Because of this they weren’t as painful as their reputation has made them out to be, and in fact the boning and stiffened boards that gave the corsets their shape could actually help give support to well-endowed ladies suffering from back pain.

Materials like satin and velvet were popular for all types of garments at the time, in lush, deep hues such as crimson, gold, emerald, and black. In addition, a stomacher — a false covering decorated with ornate designs — was often place over the bodice in order to accentuate it even more.

The Headpiece

Both men and women wore hats as part of their every day dress during the Renaissance, with one or two styles becoming the most popular due to their use by the reigning kings, queens, and royals of the time.

The Gable headdress and the Stuart cap were two of the most popular options for women, both of which served to mostly conceal and protect the hair. Men often wore berets made of velvet that were adorned with feathers and jewels.

Renaissance corsets were very different from their more famous Victorian sisters, but there were just as lovely and intricately made, and, yes, just as sexy! And though our lingerie may have changed quite a bit since those times, a gorgeous corset never goes out of style. We still love a sculpted body shape and corsets are a stylish way to get that look while also adding some sizzle to our wardrobe.

An old fashioned form of feminine underwear consisting of loose fitting trousers or shorts.

Boa

A long scarf made of feathers.

Bodice

That portion of the garment which covers the breasts. The upper part of a dress.

Bodystocking

Snug fitting hosiery that offers coverage from the neck or upper body down to the ankles or toes.

Bodysuit

Snug fitting one piece garment similar to a leotard.

Boning

Rigid supports sewn vertically into a bustier or corset that help to maintain a slim, shapely look about the torso. Originally made from bone (hence it’s name), but now made of plastic.

Boxers

Loose fitting under shorts.

Brocade

Rich oriental fabric consisting of raised patterns, often in gold or silver.

Brushed back

A material backing made from brushed cotton often used in pajamas to give a warm, flannel feel against the skin.

Burnout

Alternating patterns of sheer and opaque fabric.

Bustier

A bra that extends beneath the breasts to the waist to provide additional support, control and sex appeal.

Button front

Garment buttons/unbuttons in the front.

Attached garter belt

Stockings which have a garter belt permanently attached.

Camisole

A short top usually offering little support for the breasts.

Camouflage

A fabric pattern characterized by random patches of earth tones. While camouflage clothing is typically worn for concealment, wearing our camouflage items in public will hardly make you less noticeable!

Chantilly lace

Delicate lace made from an open, six-sided mesh background with floral designs.

Charmeuse

An opaque (i.e., not see through), shiny fabric.

Cheek-a-boo

A tongue-in-cheek (pun intended) term we made up to describe a skirt so short that the bottom of the buttocks may peek out below the hem line.

Chemise

Short under dress or slip.

Chenille

Chenille fabric used in lingerie is an imitation of chenille yarn. The fabric has patterns of soft, protuding loops of fiber that look and feel similar to the chenille yarn used to make sweaters, throw pillows, blankets and other such items.

Chiffon

A lightweight, sheer fabric.

Choker

A snug fitting necklace.

Chopper bar lace

An open net lace background that has been embroidered with a slightly raised, shiny pattern.

A belt worn around the waist with straps, called garters, that clasp onto stockings to keep them from falling down. Usually the back of the garter is adjustable to fit different waist sizes and the garter straps can be adjusted for length.

Gown

A long dress usually extending to the ankles.

G-String

A panty consisting of a triangular patch of fabric connected with thin, elastic straps in back and around the waist completely exposing the buttocks.

G-string back

Only a thin piece of elastic is used in the back and around the waist, exposing all of the buttocks.

Halter neck

Garment wraps around the neck for support and, optionally, may be tied behind the neck (halter tie) or include a clasp (halter closure).

Halter top

A short top held up at the neck usually exposing the shoulders and upper back.

Hook back

Garment closes in back with one or more hooks.

Hook front

Garment closes in front with one or more hooks.

Hook side(s)

Garment closes at the side(s) with one or more hooks.

Hot Pants

Very short pants.

Inner cap

A lining inside of a wig that prevents tangling and if adjustable, allows the wig to fit virtually any size head.

Iridescent

Fabric which appears to change color or sparkle as it moves.

Jacquard

Fabric characterized by an intricate weave or pattern. Originally named after French inventor Joseph-Marie Jacquard who invented a loom capable of producing this fabric.

Kick pleat

An inverted pleat, often used at the bottom of a skirt to give it more breadth.

Lace-up Back

Garment laces up in the back for decoration and/or for an adjustable fit.

Lace-up Front

Garment laces up in the front for decoration and/or for an adjustable fit.

Lace-up side

Garment laces up the side for decoration and/or for an adjustable fit.

Leather

Cowhide.

Lining

An extra layer of fabric sewn into the inside of a garment for added comfort or modesty.

A very short skirt with a hemline that can extend anywhere from just below the buttocks (micromini) to mid-thigh.

Net

A knit or woven fabric with an open-mesh pattern of evenly spaced holes.

Open bust / tip

Little or no coverage is provided over the breasts. In general, open bust means there is no cup whatsoever while open tip usually means there is a cup, but with an opening over the nipple area.

Open rear

No fabric or elastic covers the area between the buttocks.

Padded cups

Cups that contain padding, sometimes removable, for those with smaller breasts that might not otherwise fill out the cups.

Panty

Women’s underpants.

Pantyhose

Close fitting hosiery offering coverage from toes to waist.

Patent leather

Real or synthetic leather with a smooth, shiny surface on one side.

Pecupsek-a-boo

Cups with a slit or other opening that partially exposes the breasts or nipples.

Peignoir

From the French word which translates to “garment worn while combing the hair”. A negligee or dressing gown.

Piping

A decorative cord sewn along the edges of a garment.

Pouch

A man’s g-string.

Princess line

Visible seams which resemble an hourglass shape for a figure flattering look.

Push-up cups

Cups containing padding, sometimes removable, designed to push the breasts up to create a more flattering cleavage.

Regal lace

While it sounds like lace fit for a queen, in reality, this is just a particular pattern of lace that was arbitrarily given the name “Regal” by the fabric manufacturer.

Removable garters

Elastic straps which attach to stockings to hold them up, but which can be removed if stockings won’t be used.

Removable pads

Pads which can be removed from the cups, if desired.

Ribbed

Fabric with raised vertical ‘ribs’ usually made into form fitting designs

Rigid

Does not stretch.

Robe

A loose fitting coverup.

Satin

A particular type of shiny, woven fabric.

Scallop edges

A decorative fabric edge shaped similar to a line of scallops (or shells) lined up edge to edge.

Seamless

An item manufactured without seams. Seams can be a source of discomfort, so a seamless item will tend to be more comfortable versus a similar item made with seams.

Sequins

Small shiny discs used to reflect light and add interest to a garment.

Shawl

A wide scarf worn about the shoulders.

Shelf cups

Cups which only provide support and coverage underneath the breasts exposing the nipples.

Silicone cups

Cups which are padded with silicone instead of fiber. Silicone tends to provide a smoother, more natural look and a more comfortable fit.

Silk

A natural fiber produced by silkworms that is revered for its luxuriously soft feel.

Silk Knit

Silk fabric which stretches and clings to the body.

Slinky Knit

A soft, elastic knit fabric which conforms to the shape of the body.

Slit(s)

A narrow vertical split in the fabric usually added for ease of movement or sex appeal.

Snap Crotch

Crotch snaps/unsnaps for convenience.

Spandex/Lycra

Spandex is the generic term for fabric created from elastic thread which helps a garment to stretch for a better fit and added comfort. Lycra is a well known brand of spandex.

Stay up

Stockings with a rubber grip inside the top that helps to prevent them from slipping down the leg.

Stockings

Hosiery providing coverage from over the knee or mid-thigh to the toes.

Strapless

A garment without shoulder straps.

Stretch lace

Lace which stretches (providing a better fit and more comfort).

Suspender style

Stockings, pantyhose or bodystocking where the legs are held up by an attached waist band, sometimes styled to look like a garter belt. The front and back are usually open, so some may prefer to wear a g-string or thong underneath.

Taffeta

A crisp plain-woven lustrous fabric.

Tailored

Styled to look as if custom made by a tailor.

Tank top

A sleeveless shirt.

Tap pant

Pants with a slightly gathered, elasticized waistband and very short, loose-fitting legs.

Tapestry

Rich looking fabric similar in appearance to the heavy, handwoven designs used in making curtains and upholstery.

Teddiette

A teddy with attached garters to hold up stockings.

Teddy

A one piece garment with high cut legs and usually a thong back.

Thong back

Only a thin strip of material is used in the back exposing most of the buttocks.

Thong panty

A panty with only a thin strip of material in the back that exposes most of the buttocks.

Tie back

Garment ties/unties in the back.

Tie belt

A strip of fabric used to keep a robe closed.

Tie front

Garment ties/unties in the front.

Tie side(s)

Garment ties/unties at the side(s).

Tricot

Plain, close warp-knitted (produced by machine with the yarns running in a lengthwise direction) nylon fabric.

Tube top

A strapless, body hugging top made from a rectangular piece of fabric.

Underwired

Adds extra support and lift for the breasts using a thin wire sewn into the base of the cups. Especially desirable feature for larger breasted women.

Veil

A decorative headdress worn by brides.

Velcro side(s)

Garment attaches at the sides using Velcro allowing quick removal.

Velvet

Fabric with a short, soft, dense pile noted for its luxurious feel.

Venice lace

Firm, heavy lace with an open background, usually in floral leaf patterns.